SKU: ST.CN23P

ISBN 9790220225147.

Commissioned by the BBC as part of the celebrations for International Women's Day, and reflecting its theme of hope, Like a Singing Bird was premiered live on Radio 3 on 8 March 2015 by Sarah Connolly and the St Catharine's Girls' Choir, conducted by Edward Wickham. The distinctive vocal scoring features a small solo group of sopranos or mezzo-sopranos drawn from the upper-voice ensemble. The anthem is the first of three which are collectively entitled Echoes from Willow Wood, the second also being available in Choral Now. The text, Christina Rossetti's poem 'A Birthday', features in Virginia Woolf's classic essay A Room of One's Own, based on lectures delivered at Newnham College and at Randle's own Cambridge alma mater, Girton, an institution at the forefront of women's education for two centuries. Inspired by the clock in Girton's Stanley Library, the 'chiming rhythms' which are a driving force within the piece offer a further level of connection. The music moves from quiet anticipation to bright affirmation, the sense of something life-changing heralded by an Advent plainchant quoted in the second half. The final couplet is set apart in a hushed recitative, reflecting, in the composer's words, 'the hope I and other young female composers can have as we try to make our mark in what has traditionally been a male domain.'.

SKU: HL.14024685

Nicola Porpora (1686-1768) was a Neopolitan composer and singing teacher. A rival of Handel, he formed an opera company which performed his own compositions all over Europe. He was widely acclaimed during his lifetime both as a composer and also as a pedagogue, counting Haydn among his students. Regrettably, most of his compositions have largely fallen into obscurity since his death.

Credidi Propter is a setting of Psalm 116, originally for SSAA Upper Voice Choir, Strings and Organ Continuo, with optional Viola part. It has been edited by D. E. Hyde, and arranged with Piano accompaniment.

SKU: HL.275373

UPC: 888680743758. 6.75x10.5x0.019 inches.

This Jazz standard by Thelonious Monk is melodically and harmonically sophisticated and interesting. It has been covered by more artists that can be counted and on every instrument, every band-big and small and singers and singing ensembles. The options are seemingly endless. Here, Ed gives us another worthy arrangement for the jazz, show or concert choir.

SKU: GI.G-8360

UPC: 785147836001. Italian.

Giovanni Gabrieli's Se cantano gl'augelli comes from a collection of madrigals entitled Il trionfo di Dori. Each madrigal is scored for six voices and each ends with the text Viva la bella Dori (Long live fair Dori). This late sixteenth-century collection of madrigals enjoyed great success and was the model of the famous English collection of madrigals entitled, The Triumphes of Oriana. The GIA Historical Music Series edited by Dennis Shrock, presents repertoire suitable for performance by public school, college and university, church, and community ensembles, with the purpose of making available to today’s conductors lesser-known and previously difficult-to-procure historical masterpieces. The music, drawn from the Renaissance through the Romantic eras, is in performance editions based on the most current and rigorous scholarly research. The musical scores reflect original intent of notation, with all editorial markings and emendations clearly identified as such. In addition, preface material accompanying the music contains literal translations of foreign language texts and information regarding the lives of the composers, genres, and relevant performance practices. Dennis Shrock is Director of Choral Activities at Texas Christian University. He has been called one of the top choral scholars in the United States and has received a number of awards for his work. He received a bachelor's degree in music education from Westminster Choir College and both master's and doctoral degrees in choral conducting from Indiana University. .